Member for Davidson, Jonathan O’Dea is urging families to be on the lookout for unapproved electrical goods when shopping for Mother’s Day gifts.
“They might look like a bargain, but unapproved electrical goods are a bad investment,” Mr O’Dea said. “Appliances that fail to meet Australia’s stringent standards may not merely prove to be unreliable. They can be incredibly dangerous.”
Mr O’Dea said consumers can be particularly vulnerable when shopping at markets or online, where counterfeit and unapproved goods are most likely to be found.
“Don’t scrimp on Mum by making price the sole consideration when buying electrical gifts. Shop with reputable retailers and look for genuine trademarks and trade names to ensure you are getting what you pay for,” Mr O’Dea said.
Mother’s Day shoppers offered unapproved or counterfeit electrical appliances should contact Fair Trading on 13 32 20 and should look for the following:
- A regulatory compliance mark (the tick in a triangle)
- An Australian approval number on the nameplate (Australian approval numbers start with the first letter of the state followed by a number e.g. N or NSW 20123 for electrical products approved by NSW Fair Trading)
- Normal operating voltage of 240 volts
- Warranty cards or instructions.
Fair Trading Minister, Stuart Ayres also urged shoppers to brush up on their consumer rights in the lead up to Mother’s Day.
“Make sure you are aware of a store’s refund policy before making a purchase and remember, signs that simply say ‘no refunds or exchanges’ are illegal under the Australian Consumer Law,” Mr Ayres said.
“While there is no compulsion on any retailer to exchange or refund if mum doesn’t like the gift or it is the wrong colour, if the item purchased is faulty, not fit for its purpose or does not correspond with the description online or on the packaging, the retailer must offer the consumer redress.”
Mr O’Dea advised consumers to download Fair Trading’s free ShopSmart app which provides a wealth of information regarding online shopping and refund, warranty and lay-by rights. Shoppers are also able to store photos of their receipts on the app and set reminders for expiry dates of gift vouchers, lay-bys and warranties.
For more information and to check approval marks, go to: www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au
